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Debbie Abrahams

Debbie Abrahams

Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth

Debbie Abrahams is the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, and has been an MP continually since 13 January 2011.

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Seat status

Safe

Percentage of votes

15.87%

Recent swing

-8.3% Labour

Party

Labour

Top donors:

No registered donations

Explore what Debbie is advocating for

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Benefits and Jobs

Department for Work and Pensions

“I am grateful for that intervention; long may that work continue. About one in eight young people are not in work, education or training. That is more than a million young people. It is the first time since 2013 that have we seen figures on that level. Ill health, and especially mental ill health, is a major driver of that. While programmes such as Connect to Work are welcome, with funding of around £820 million, they appear to be modest, relative to the scale of the challenge. The Government’s plans may support up to 90,000 young people into work, but that is still only a fraction of what is needed. The key test is outcomes—how many people move into sustained work. The accounts of the Department for Work and Pensions remain qualified, due to fraud and error amounting to nearly £10 billion in overpayments. Service quality issues persist; there are communication failures, discrimination findings and serious backlogs. The carer’s allowance overpayment scandal caused profound distress, and Access to Work delays are unacceptable. These are not marginal issues; they affect whether support reaches people fairly and on time. For the DWP, value for money must include timeliness, accuracy and trust. The most egregious failings relate to safeguarding. Last year alone, the Department undertook 90 internal reviews, including following claimant deaths and serious harm to claimants. Since 2010, there have been 10 prevention of future death reports from coroners warning that the systems must change. Our Committee has described the safeguarding approach as deficient. While some progress has been made, it remains too slow. Incremental change is just not good enough. Machinery of government changes and local delivery models risk blurring accountability, so while local flexibility is important and place-based approaches are essential, outcomes must be consistent. Parliament must be able to see clearly who is responsible for delivery. The overarching issue is the lack of a clear link between spending plans and outcomes. While improvements have been made, scrutiny is weakened when Parliament cannot see how success will be measured. A clearer, strategic plan linking spending to measurable outcomes is essential. The debate is not about whether social security spending is necessary—it clearly is—but whether a Department spending £300 billion is using resources effectively, fairly and transparently. I would be grateful if the Minister answered three questions in her response. What outcomes will this spending deliver? How will progress be measured? Who is accountable if delivery fails? The challenge is to show that the estimate is aligned with the scale of the problem, operationally credible and capable of delivering services with dignity and respect. Finally, I thank my Clerk and all his team for their excellent support for the Committee.”

Spoke in 52 debatesAsked 20 questions

Healthcare

Health and Social Care: Topical Questions

“There is overwhelming evidence that marketised health systems, as the NHS has become, increase health inequalities. Will the Health Secretary consider amendments to the Health Bill that will tackle the rising inequalities in existing health policies, including allowing local NHS organisations to determine if they need additional private sector capacity?”

Spoke in 3 debatesAsked 31 questions2 APPG roles
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Key Parliamentary Votes

See where your MP stands on these issues

VOTED AYE4 Sep 2025

House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill

✓ Passed — 336 For, 77 Against

DID NOT VOTE9 Mar 2026

Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill

✓ Passed — 307 For, 173 Against

DID NOT VOTE10 Mar 2026

Courts and Tribunals Bill

✓ Passed — 304 For, 203 Against

Where Debbie fits into things

Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer

Prime Minister

Debbie Abrahams

Debbie Abrahams

Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth

Surgeries

Monthly in-person, occasional online

Examples of successful citizen influence

  • Coordinated constituent emails leading to parliamentary questions
  • Local campaign prompting a public statement

Pressure that tends to influence

  • High volume constituent contact
  • Media attention on local issues
  • Cross-party committee pressure